Coach Hyatt, who was named to the post in April, continues a long tradition of Anson High's head football coaches appearing to speak before the Civitan club.
The coach started off by telling the group this will be his 12th year coaching, but his first as head coach. When he first got out of high school, Hyatt said, he had "no clue" what he was going to do with his life. He started out thinking he might want to be a doctor, he recalled, adding that after he got a C in his first biology class, he decided to rethink that career choice. The Anson County native eventually worked his way up the ladder as an assistant coach until finally being named head coach when former head coach Tim McMahon announced he was accepting another job earlier this year.
"I feel like the luckiest man alive to be the head football coach at Anson High School," Hyatt said, adding, "This is a great opportunity for me. All the people that preceded me... I have all of them to thank."
Coach Hyatt said he's been working his team since he started the job almost four months ago. "The first official day of practice is Aug. 1," he explained, "but we've been practicing since March."
This year's team has even been practicing this summer, which is allowed as long as there is no full body contact between the players. That will be allowed starting Aug. 1, the coach said.
The following Saturday, Aug. 8, the team will be holding a "Meet the Bearcats" night, starting at 6 p.m. at the school's athletic field. During this event, the coach said fans and parents will be able to meet the new team, coaches, cheerleaders and others who make the football season happen.
The Bearcats' first game will be on Aug. 21, against Forest Hills. Of the 11 games the team has on its regular season schedule, seven will be at home.
Anson is part of a new conference this year, the Southern Carolina 3A/4A. "It's a split conference," Hyatt said. "There are only five conference games. If you look at the schedule, you will see some familiar faces and some you don't wanna see."
The Bearcats will be renewing their rivalry with Scotland and Hoke counties, the coach said, and will also be playing new conference rivals, Sun Valley and Porter Ridge. And of course, there's also "the Green Army from across the river," in Richmond County, Hyatt said.
"We've got a lot of high hopes this season," he added. "When I first started this job, I thought, 'Good gracious, what if we don't win any games?'"
After those initial fears, however, Hyatt said he feels confident that his guys are up to the task. And that doesn't mean only on the football field. Hyatt said he's had recruiters from every big-name college one might think of, including N.C. State, Duke, Clemson, Florida State and others.
"I'll tell you right now," the coach said, "I'm not going to compromise integrity in the classroom for success on the field."
He pointed out that of this past year's junior class, four of the top 10 students were on his team.
"One thing Coach Hyatt's gonna harp on a lot is if you really want to play football at the next level, you will need good grades," he said.
The coach said the first thing one might notice in his office is a sign on the blackboard that reads, "Expect to win." "I tell the guys that doesn't only mean in football, he explained. "I'm not lowering my expectations for anybody."
Although right now, he said "the No. 1 opponent is ourselves," Coach Hyatt said that starting Aug. 1, the team will focus all its efforts on Forest Hills.
"I'm looking forward to a great season," he added.
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